Coppell headed to State with Marcus win

Published 4/12/2014 7:51:26 PM by staff from dallas

In Midland, junior forward Austin Michaelis, returning after serving a one match red card suspension, scored a first-half goal to help Coppell win the 5A Region I final. The win, Coppell’s 12th straight postseason victory, earned the Cowboys (21-1-2) a chance to defend their state title at next week's state tournament. The 5A semifinals are Thursday at Birkelbach Field in Georgetown.

Flower Mound Marcus ended its season 19-2-4. Both losses were to District 5-5A foe Coppell. The two teams also tied this season. But a second consecutive loss to its rival in the regional final is what stings most.

“It’s a little more bitter, this one, because it’s the second one in a row,” Marcus coach John Gall said. “It’s a great season and super proud of the kids, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that we are all quite disappointed with the result.”

Marcus could’ve easily been down much more than 1-0 at halftime, were it not for the efforts of goalkeeper Landon Plunkett. The sophomore, who collected nine saves in total, was challenged six times in the opening 40 minutes and stopped five of those, including a kick-save at point-blank range three minutes after Michaelis’ goal in the 34th minute.

Coppell keeper Eric Benenson didn’t see nearly the action Plunkett encountered, but kept it level at 0-0 a little more than midway through the first half with a diving save of Hank Steinhafel’s shot, and then relied on his defense to clear a rebound attempt from his line and out of danger.

“We had a chance to put one in — we didn’t,” Gall said.

A free kick in into the Marauders’ 18 yard box was not dealt with well and the ball ended up with Michaelis, who unleashed a curling shot placed to the far upper corner of the net for a 1-0 Cowboys lead. The dagger came in the 55th minute as Kellen Reid headed home the 2nd goal off a deflection from an Austin Michaelis long throw in.

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